The Florida Gaming Control Commission held off on approving the sale of Miami’s Magic City Casino to the Poarch Band of Creek Indians Thursday to allow more information about the sale to reach the public.

The pari-mutuel with over 800 slot machines has been owned and operated by the Havenick family since the early 1930s. As a parimutuel, it had primarily been a dog racing track for several decades but Florida voters ended greyhound races through a constitutional amendment in 2018.

The Florida Gaming Control Commission was put into action in 2021 and has a stated mission to, “preserve and protect the integrity of gaming activities through fair regulation, licensing effective criminal investigation, and enforcement.”

The proposed sale, which could still be completed before the end of the year, involves only gambling activities at the casino – other gambling operations owned by the Havenicks, including a Bonita Springs card room permit and summer jai-alai and card games in Miami would not be affected.

Highly Redacted Document

Over 100 pages of the 103-page application were redacted. In addition to the application, a four-page memorandum produced by the commission that recommended the sale’s approval was included in publicly available paperwork.

While gambling enthusiasm remains high in Florida, so does baked-in opposition from various forces. Some in the past have been associated with Disney by some reports, others connected to existing or potential operators trying to keep down the competition, and others yet, simply attributed to religious and other “moral responsibility” groups opposed to gambling.

The “advocacy” group, No Casinos Inc., asked the gaming commission to delay approval of the license transfer application so that the public could learn more about it. No Casinos president, John Sowinski said that the commission was created “to really elevate the public discussion and bring out in the forefront these types of decisions that are made about the gambling industry in our state,” according to a report in the SunSentinel.

Noting the level of redactions of content in the application, Sowinski, said: “The public should have the ability to see and kick the tires of everything that is not truly, truly a trade secret.”

Counsel for the seller, John Lockwood told commissioners the whole deal could fall apart if the deal isn’t closed within the next month.

“This is such a simple and narrow transaction. I had no idea it was going to become such a hotly discussed topic at this commission,” Lockwood said.

Prior to the commission panel being created the application would have been approved or denied behind closed doors. Lockwood said he has worked with the commission since August.

“I’m not taking the position that every single thing that we submitted to this commission is trade secret,” he said while promising “to provide a less-redacted document,” to the commission.

“But again, I would implore the commission to not delay this transaction into next year because I do have fears as to what that would involve for this entire deal,” he said.

Sunshine Law Provisions Not Met

Commission Chair John MacIver said that while there was nothing objectionable in the application, he was concerned about compliance with Florida’s Government-in-the-Sunshine law, which is an open meetings law providing a right of access to governmental proceedings at both the state and local levels.

“If there is an over-redaction of material that the public has not had an opportunity to consider prior to us taking action, I think it would be inappropriate for us to take action at this time,” MacIver said.

The Poarch Creeks already run two gambling facilities in the state but are most well known nationally for their Wind Creek Hospitality holding which purchased Sands Bethlehem in Pennsylvania for $1.3b in 2019. Wind Creek owns gambling facilities in Aruba, Curacao, Chicago, Alabama, and Nevada.

Legal representatives for the Seminole Tribe of Florida (Hardrock) asked the commission to move forward with caution as the translation oversight could set a precedent for future changes in ownership at gambling facilities.

Magic City’s counsel noted that intervention or objections to a change in ownership by third parties would be without any legal authority.

Source: Magic City Casino sale to Native American tribe on hold, South Florida SunSentinel, Dec 01, 2022

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Upping the ante

The eleventh-hour interloper in the multi-corporation gold rush for just three downstate New York casino licenses has upped the ante by adding star power to its pitch.

Jay-Z and his world famous entertainment agency, Roc Nation

For their Times Square casino project, the New York Post revealed Sunday, Caesars Entertainment and New York property developer SL Green (SLG) have inked a partnership with Jay-Z and his world-famous entertainment agency, Roc Nation. Fan account Jay-Z Daily shared a statement on the partnership from the billionaire entrepreneur via Twitter.

“New York is the epicenter of culture. We have the opportunity to create a destination at the heart of the true crossroads of the word,” the world’s most influential hip-hop artist said.

Landing such a heavyweight Brooklyn-born music and entertainment icon and his brand signals Caesars and SLG’s strategic, NY-culture embracing intent in the race for the three licenses.

With license applications opening on January 6, news of the Caesars-SLG-Roc Nation tie-up will likely get the marketing departments from rival bidding groups working overtime refining their proposals.

Major players make big moves

SLG’s annual investor conference on Monday is when — according to the NY Post’s Realty Check — the details of the Jay-Z-Caesars-SLG partnership will be announced. It’s expected, however, that Roc Nation will oversee entertainment programming at 1515 Broadway and other SLG Times Square properties.

thinking outside the pure casino-build box

That groups like Caesars and SLG are thinking outside the pure casino-build box, signals the intensity of the bidding war. This comes from the notion that the widely believed two favorites, Genting-owned Resorts World New York City in Queens and Yonkers’ Empire City Casino, practically have their licenses in the bag.

This essentially leaves just one license for which to fight.

Caesars-SLG’s bid, which came as a late surprise, is for Times Square, while Wynn Resorts-Related Companies are banking on Hudson Yards. Other interested bidders include New York Mets owner Steven Cohen (proposed site near Citi Park), the Soloviev Group (Midtown East), and Thor Equities Group, which has announced a $3bn bid for a Coney Island project. Add Vornado’s Steve Roth, who’s suggested a potential Herald Square bid, and it is clear that the industry’s biggest hitters are heading for a winner-take-all showdown in New York.

No New York gambling mecca

SLG has also used the Jay-Z headliner to nip a wrong perception in the bud, that the Caesars Palace Times Square casino project would be nothing but an oversized gaming pleasure dome. Instead, the New York Post cited SLG CEO Marc Holliday as saying the: “boutique-size casino […] would occupy only eight floors in the 54-story tower.”

Holliday also announced an approximately 800-room, five-star hotel at the site. This dovetails with SLG-Caesars getting onboard with certain aspects of the bidding criteria. Namely, that applicants will need to demonstrate to the New York state sitting committee how many quality jobs their gaming facility would create and how it would boost revenue for the locality and the state.

With Jay-Z now on board, the Caesars Palace Times Square bid has that entertainment X-factor base covered.

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Nixon bests an elite field to bag £93,970 

Last Sunday saw popular poker player, vlogger, and Twitch streamer Jamie Nixon take down the £1,250 ($1,530) Grosvenor UK Poker Tour (GUKPT) London Main Event for a career best £93,970 ($115,039). Better yet, he did it on home soil of sorts – Nixon is a Grosvenor Poker sponsored player. 

347 brave souls took their seats in London’s prestigious Victoria Casino, 34 made the money, and when it got down to the final nine, the cream had risen to the top with Irish Open winner Ryan Mandara, WSOP Main Event Finalist Antonine Labat, and Bellagio Cup winner Killy Sidhu all still in the mix. 

 a significant marker for a great player who had never previously closed out a big live tournament

In the end, however, it was Nixon who emerged victorious from the talented final table, a significant marker for a great player who had never previously closed out a big live tournament. Nixon sat down with VegasSlotsOnline News on the heels of this fantastic score. 

Interview

David K. Lappin: First of all, congratulations on the terrific result. When I messaged you the day after you won, you jokingly said “I finally didn’t bottle it.” Earlier this year, you had a trio of runner-up finishes in the Irish Open High Roller, PPC UK High Roller, and UKIPT London High Roller. Did you feel like there was a monkey on your back? 

Jamie Nixon: Thanks very much mate! Yeah, it’s been a long time coming this one. As you mentioned, earlier this year, I had that string of three second places. They all came in the space of a month, so I think that was playing on my mind ever since. In London though, I felt zero pressure – probably because of the fact I was ill and was completely drained of energy! I’ve done a lot of work on the heads-up element of my game too, but fortunately I didn’t have to use much of it as it only lasted four hands!

DKL: It was a tough final table – as tough as any I’ve ever seen at Grosvenor events. Can you describe the final table from your point of view? 

JN: The standard at the final table was very high and I’m actually good friends with Ryan Mandara, Kully Sidhu, and Mitch Hynam. I felt comfortable in that crowd, though, and knew that if I played my game, I’d be fine skill-wise. I came in with a decent stack, but dwindled for a while with the card distribution not doing me any favors, but fortunately, I ran well at the right time!

DKL: When you have had nice results in the past, have you ever splurged on something nice for yourself, or is it just money on the pile? 

JN: I’m a family man so the majority of the splurges have had some purpose – a house deposit and a new car (although I splurged more than I should have on the car as I persuaded my better half Ellie to let me get a Range Rover). I’d say the majority of the fun spending money goes on meals out. My son Charlie has an expensive pallet and loves his sushi!

DKL: On a recent episode of “The Chip Race,” Dara said that your most striking feature is your “apparent total unflappability.” That’s a great quality to have as a poker player. It probably means that you rarely stray far from your A-game. If you had to identify a leak that creeps in, one that you have to watch out for, what is it? 

JN: That’s very kind of Dara! I’d definitely say that I agree as I don’t really get stressed out at the table, which certainly helps. Leaks wise though, I would say I have loads. I’m probably not as studied 80bb+ as I should be, and I definitely need to work on that more. Also, despite studying heads-up a lot this year, I’d say I’m a long way from perfect! So next time I’m heads-up with Dara, he’ll know he can go for the kill!

DKL: One thing I’ve noticed is that, unlike a lot of poker players, you understand the value of a dollar. Whether that is because you had a job before poker or because you have a young family, it manifests itself in you being a very steady, responsible young man. Has that helped you as a poker player or hindered you as it made you more risk averse on occasions when there were good shots to take? 

JN: Are you calling me a nit, David? Haha. 

Yeah for sure, I’ve been pretty open in the past about how before poker, I wasn’t doing amazingly well financially. I was very much a month-to-month type of guy, as a lot of people are these days. I wouldn’t say that it makes me risk averse, as if I’ve got a big roll, I’ll definitely take shots. I just won’t take the sort of risks that could get me back to the position I was in before poker. I always need to have that buffer there. I would say it’s definitely helped me, as I’ve managed to build steadily.

DKL: You’ve posted a monthly vlog for the last two months at least. I assume this win will feature heavily in the next one? 

JN: I’ve been more focused on live poker over the last nine months, so I’ve been unable to stream as often on Twitch. I realized that the obvious thing to do was to start creating vlogs to fill the void. They are a great way to look back on what you’ve done down the line too, rather than just having the memories. 

It’s a funny thing actually, I did start it for GUKPT London on Day 1, but on Day 2 I fell ill with food poisoning and could barely lift my head up, never mind record video so I ended up not doing it, for the biggest win of my career so far! Run bad even when I’m winning, right? I’m going to try and put something together from other people’s videos and the live stream footage though!

DKL: For the last few months, you’ve been hosting a “Vegas Home Game” in which there is a leaderboard to ultimately give away a £10,000 ($12,242) Vegas package. Can you tell me more about that?  

JN: I’ve been running a weekly home game on Grosvenor Poker for a number of years now and the latest promo is to take a couple of people to Vegas in Summer 2023. The competition is ongoing until the end of December! 

Each month we have a leaderboard for my home game and the top three players from each month go into a final (played in January) where they’ll be joined by the top three each month in my fellow pro Katie Swift’s league. In that final, two players will win a package to go to Vegas, as well as lots of others winning a number of tournament tickets! It’s all added value, too, so it’s great to be able to run something like that. 

DKL: A few years ago, you came on “The Chip Race” to do a strategy segment. Some strategy guests bring successful bluffs or hero calls that they made but you brought a hand that you described as “the worst hand I ever played.” I think that speaks volumes for you and the way you always put ego to one side in the pursuit of improvement. So…have you played a worse one since?

JN: Probably a load of them! I did play one recently which I’ll say is worse, not because of how I played it but because it nearly got me beaten up!

I was in Cyprus a couple of weeks ago for the $3k main and we were in a three-bet pot. We got to the river on a four-spade board. I had AQ so I elected to put in a large river bluff. My opponent (a very large, scary looking Turkish guy) tanked for five minutes before calling. I said “good call” whilst tabling my hand, only to see the Q not the Q, which beat his set! He was fuming, throwing the chips at me as well as flipping his seat over! I thought he was going to kill me, but fortunately I got moved table two hands later, otherwise I might not have made it home from Cyprus!

DKL: Ha, ha, we’ll I’m glad you got home in one piece and once again, huge congratulations on the brilliant result. 

GUKPT London Main Event Final Table Results 

1. Jamie Nixon – £93,970
2. Kully Sidhu – £64,980
3. Phil Clarke – £39,630
4. Mitch Hynam – £24,995
5. Antoine Labat – £16,780
6. Justin Tsui – £12,140
7. Ryan Mandara – £9,285
8. Nikolai Mamut – £7,855
9. Yucel Eminoglu – £6,425

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